Overview

• South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said a North Korean merchant vessel crossed the Northern Limit Line near Baengnyeong around 5 a.m. and stayed south of the line for about an hour, reaching roughly 5 kilometers past it.
• A South Korean Navy ship fired around 60 to 70 warning shots after broadcasts went unanswered, and the vessel turned west and exited the South’s control area by about 6 a.m.
• No North Korean return fire or unusual military movements were detected following the incident, according to South Korean officials.
• JCS officials currently assess the crossing as likely unintentional and note it is the first intrusion beyond the NLL by a North Korean vessel in three years.
• Officials said the ship switched its AIS nationality to China and flew a Chinese flag near about a dozen Chinese vessels, a detail now under investigation for possible concealment or sanctions issues, with the ROKS Cheonan frigate operating in the area.